Wheel-tire.



' B. LAVIETES.

WHEEL TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7. 1917.

Patented Se 0, 1918.

2 SHEET [ET 2.

lm/zlvrof? BORREs LA W 5755.

Hi-TOR E v B. LAVIETES.

WHEEL TIRE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7. l9l7- I 2 SHEET S ET 2.

M211 mm nan WHEEL-TIRE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. 10,1918.

Application filed February 7,1917; Serial No. 147,040.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Bonens Lnvrerns, a cltlzen of theUnited States, residing at the city of Los 'Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and vuseful Improvements in WheeLTires, of which the following is aspecification.

Tires for automobiles and other like vehicles are principally made of rubber and these'tires so 'made are expensive, arerela- :tively short lived, are extremely liable to slip or skid on wet pavements and pneumatic tires'are liable to be cut or punctured in use thus impairing or destroying their ef-' ficiency.

My invention relates to improvements in tires for the wheels of automobiles and other vehicles 111 which a casing of fabric, leather,

rubber or other suitable material is employed to inclose an interior structure and the object thereof is to provide a strong and durabletirewhich will be proof against puncture or the evil results therefrom and which possesses the requisite amount of flexibility and elasticity and in which the wearing surface or portions of the tire can be replaced when desired.

Another object o'fmy invention is to produce a tire which, while possessing the advantages of a rubber tire, will also be durable and free from the objections above noted with respect to rubber tires.

A further object is to provide a tire provided with. detachable spurs or'raised portions which portions form the wearing surface of the tire which raised portions can be removed when worn'or injured and replaced with new portlons thus making the tire practically everlasting. 7

While I have shown and will describe the 1 preferred form of my invention it will be rangem ent of understood that various changes and rearparts may be made Without departingfrom the spiritof my invention.

I accomplish the above and other objects as -will'appear hereinafter by the device described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof in whlch Figure lis a transverse section of my tire in its positionof use.

' Fig. 2'is a central longitudinal section of a portion of a tire with parts in elevation and partly broken away for clear-mess of illustration;

These spurs or plugs of resilient spring members spring members are formed of e i t eri s t ea h is a side elevation of aiportion of a sockets omitted. Fig. 4: is a top-'plan-of aportion of the interior structure.

Fig. 5 is a similarview of a modified form. Fi '6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, of a modified form of my tire more particularlv designed for heavy work. 7

Fig. 7 -'s a longitudinal section of a portion of the tire shown in Fig. 6, partly in elevation.

Fig. 8 is a top plan of Fig. 6. Figfi-Q is a perspective view of one of the spurs-used with my tire.

Fig. 10 isa similar view to' Fig. 9,'of another form of spur. Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a 'fragment'of the outer casing showing the method of securing the spurs thereto.

excepting that it is made of fabric similar to braided belting, although it may be made of any other suitable material, and :is held positioned in the usual way.

In the outer periphery of this casing 12 I provid a plurality of recesses 13 the lower portion of which is-enlarged as at 14c and in each of these recesses I mount a spur or plug 15'tl1'e enlarged head 16 of which is received in the enlarged portion -14: of the recesses.

are secured in said recesses in any suitable manner. Mounted within casing 12 and extending radially around the folly of the wheel are a plurality 17 These strips of spring metal, preferably steel, of sufficient thickness to properly sustain the maximum load it is desired to carry and are bent cenrtrallyof their length, into an arc to coincide with the inner surface of the casing for a distance equal to the portion of the tire which contacts with the ground when the tire isi-n use and the free ends are then bent to form a series of pairs of oppositely disposed loops 17 from "the are to near the 1 'm-of the wheel, the free ends of said strips being bent inwardly to rest upon said rim and then bent to extend upwardly a short 'dis'tance. These-spring members are of sulficien't width to abut against each other and thus'fi'llup the space wi hin'the casing. The

therein a rectangular groove or aperture, 18 and a resilient band 19 is mounted beneath the tread portion of spring members 17 and is provided with upwardly extending lugs 20 of the same configuration as the grooves in the sprin "members which lugs are re ceived in said grooves and serve to hold the said springs positioned. The free ends of each spring are turned upwardly at 21 and the upturned ends are connected together longitudinally by bands or hoop's22 which are formed to fit over the top of said upturned ends. At intervals around the said hoops 22 I connect them together by means of a plurality of adjusting screws 23 which are provided with right and .left hand threads so that as said screws are rotated by means of thenut portion 2 1 the ends of said springs are drawn together or spread apart according to the direction the screws are rotated and provides means for positioning the interior portion within the casing. A slot 25 is provided through the felly ofthe wheel for the entrance of a wrench to operate the screws 23. To provide greater strength without sacrificing any of. the resiliency I mount coil springs 26 between the inwardly opening loops 17 a each spring comprising a plurality of short coils connected together and each spring beingheld positioned atits ends by clamps 2 secured to loops 17*. While I have shownonly one spring 26 it will be understood thatI do not limit myself to such number. but may.

use more if desirable or I may omit their use entirely.

In ;F ig."5 I have shown every other member 17 reversed so that the grooves in each.

pair of said members register each with the other, and the upwardly extendmg lugs on band 19 are enlarged so as to fill the recesses thus formed, and accomplish the same result as is accomplished by my preferred.

form shown in Fig. 4:.

In positioning the studs wlthm the recesses 1n the outer caslng the recesses w1ll first be coated with cement and the enlarged "lower: ends of the' studs also treated to. a

, coat of cement.

By squeezing the casing transversely the recesses will be spread or enlarged and the studs can then be easily forced into position thereinv and releasing the casing and allowing the cement to dry secures said studs in place. The'worn out studs will be removed in a like manner. 7

In Flg. 6 I have shown my tire as adapted for use where itis desired to carry heavy loads. This form is similar in all respects 'to that heretofore described except that I provide an auxiliary load coil spring 30 'mounted within springs 26, the upper end thereof; bearing against the under side of band 19 and :the lower end being enlarged and resting upon the lowermost pair of loops 17 and auxiliary coil springs 31 between tire it will be understood that these plugs may be used with any of the present forms 7 of pneumatic tires or may be omitted if desired.

In Fig. 10, I- have shown a modified form of anti-skid spur. In this form "I provide friction plugs 33 of fabric or other suitable slow wearing material, which are vulcanized .in the spur near each end thereof, and .pro-

vide a more substantial wearing surface, thereby increasing the life of said spur without materally altering the resiliency thereof. Otherwise these spurs are similar to Fig. 9. In Figrll I have shown an'enlargedfragment of my tire casing 12, and a portion of one of the recesses 14 for the anti-friction spurs *15. 1 I i 1 .Having described my invention what I claim is. I I 1 1. A wheel tire comprising an outer casing; a plurality of transverse radially extending springs mounted within said casing said springs having their; lateral portions corrugated and their free ends bent inwardly toward each other and. then upwardly a short distance and spaced apart; retaining rings mounted upon and conneotingthe ends of said springs; coil springs mounted within the corrugations of said radial springs rand 7 means connecting said retaining rings adapted to vary the spacing therebetween.

2. In a vehicle wheel the combination of a felly; a rim on said felly; an outer casing .mounted on said rim; a plurality of trans verse radially extending springs mounted within sald casing, sa d springs havmg their lateral portions corrugated and their free upon said rim and then upwardly a short distance and spaced apart; a retaining ring mounted upon vand connecting oneof the free ends of each of-said springs; .a retaining ring mounted upon and connectingthe other ends of said springs; a plurality ofadjustmg studs connecting said retaining rings at spaced intervals around said rings wherebv the free ends of sa1dspr1.ngsmay be moved lateral portions corrugated, and their" free ends bent inwardly toward each other and then upwardly a short .distance;sretaining rings connecting the longitudinally adjacent ends of said springs; coil springs between the inner and outer corrugations of said radial springs; a tread ring connecting the ends bent inwardly. toward each -otherto rest arched portions of said springs centrally thereof; in combination with means to vary the space between the upturned free ends of said radial springs.

4:. A. wheel tire comprising an outer fabric casing; a plurality of radially extending arched springs mounted within said casing transversely thereof with their free ends extending inwardly, said free ends being bent inwardly toward each other and then upwardly a short distance and being normally spaced apart; retaining rings connecting the longitudinally alined free ends of said springs; a tread ring connecting the arched portions of said springs centrally thereof; in combination with means to vary the spacing between the free ends of said arched springs.

5. In a resilient wheel a felly; a rim on said felly having longitudinally extending, opposed grooves in the sides thereof; an outer casing mounted on said rim, said casing being substantially U-shaped in cross section and being provided with an annular bead on the outer face of each of its freeedges adapted to be received in the grooves of said rim; a plurality of transverse, radially extending, springs mounted within said casing, the lateral portions thereof being corrugated, and having their free ends bent inwardly toward each other and then upwardly and spaced apart; a tread ring connecting the central portions of said springs, coil springs within the inner corrugations of said transverse springs; means to vary the spacing between the free ends of said transverse springs; and means to operate said last means.

6. A resilient wheel comprising a felly; a rim on said felly having an outwardly extending flange at each side thereof and grooves in the opposed faces of said flanges; a substantially U-shaped casing mounted on said rim with its free edges resting thereupon each of said free edges being provided on its outer face with an annular outwardly extending bead adapted to be mounted in the grooves of the rim; a plurality of radially extending arched springs mounted within said casing transversely thereof, the lateral portions of said springs being bent to form a plurality of alternate inwardly and outwardly opening opposed loops for a portion of their length and then bent downwardly and inwardly at an angle and then inwardly toward each other and then upwardly a short distance and spaced apart, the closed portions of the inwardly opening loops being adapted to bear against the inner face of said casing, and the angular portions being adapted to bear against the inner face of the casing opposite the beads, a tread ring connecting the arched portion of said springs; retaining rings connecting the longitudinally abutting ends of said springs; adjustable connections between said retaining rings adapted to move said rings toward or away from each other to permit the beads of the casing to be positioned within or withdrawn from the grooves of said rim and to hold said beads positioned against accidental displacement; and means to operate said adj ustable connections.

' 7. In a resilient wheel the combination of a rim; a plurality of arched springs mounted upon said rim; a connecting tread ring centrally engaging said arched springs; retaining rings connecting the free ends of said arched springs; means to adjust the distance between said retaining rings; and a fabric envelop in which said members are mounted.

8. In a resilient wheel the combination 0 a rim; a shoe on said rim; a plurality of resilient loops within said shoe; a connection for the central portions of said loops; connections for the free ends of said loops; and coil springs mounted within said loops.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this fifth day of July, 1915.

BORRES LAVIETES.

Witness FRANK WATERFIELD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eaten-t5, Washington, D. O. 

